~ Veterans of Foreign Wars – Department of North Carolina

Yes, we, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, are committed to serving returning veterans, their families, and our communities. This new Public Service Announcement shares that vision. How about you? Are you ready to join with other veterans to give back to our country? We came home. Some of our friends did not. That is why we serve others. We do it to memorialize the many brave men and women who did not come home or who came home badly injured. It is our sacred duty in their honor.

At a January 2018 District Meeting in Chapel Hill, the many Posts of the district learned more about the Orange County Veterans Memorial under construction in Chapel Hill. An Orange County Veterans’ Memorial ball cap was passed around and $102 was collected. That donation will be doubled by the County Commissioners as part of their matching fund of $15,000.

This county-sponsored memorial honors all who have served their country, but especially Orange County Veterans. Past District Commander Heavlin shared the history of veterans in Orange County and that the county as we know it today is far smaller than originally established. Many do not know that in 1752 Orange County was created from Bladen, Granville and Johnston Counties. Then, over the years, many other counties were formed from parts of the “Old Orange County.” They were “Chatham (1771), Caswell (1777) and Person (created out of Caswell in 1791), and Alamance (1849). Other sections of the old county were combined with parts of other counties to create: Guilford (1771) –which gave birth in turn to Randolph (1779) and Rockingham (1785) — Wake (1771), Durham (1881), and Lee (1907). After all of this, Orange County was just a fraction of its original size.” – familysearch.org

“There are two living United States air crewmen who witnessed the atomic bomb explosion on Aug. 6, 1945. One is a member of the primary mission; the other is McGlohon. McGlohon had been giving talks relating to the events of that day for years with no written proof of the participation of the aircraft he was aboard.” The museum is hosting a modern detective story of how Ken Samuelson, with McGlohon’s assistance, proved that McGlohon was there that day. Learn more.

District 6 is very proud to announce district competition winners for both the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen Contests for 2017. The winners and their sponsoring posts are:

Voice of Democracy

1st Place Laura Jones Mebane Post 1920

2nd Place Michael Slaton Henderson Post 2417

3rd Place Litao Tu Durham Post 2740

Patriot’s Pen

1st place Amelia J Solum Chapel Hill Post 9100

2nd place Maggie McLean Bass Butner Post 10777

3rd place Aaren C Capilitan Durham 2740

District winners receive a certificate and a small award. All first place winners will now compete in a state-wide competition and the winning contestants will compete in the National Finals. We extend our congratulations to all winners and look forward to one or more winning state and national recognition.

Chapel Hill Post 9100 announced recently that Orange County will dedicate the site for the future Orange County Veterans Memorial. The memorial will be constructed off Homestead Road in Chapel Hill above the Seymour Center. Dedication of the site is set for Veterans Day, November 11, 2016, with ground breaking slated for Memorial Day 2017. Fundraising has already begun.

The memorial was originally slated for the Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery, but the Homestead Road site is more accessible, park-line, and is much larger. Lee Heavlin and Bud Hampton of C. V. Cummings Chapel Hill Post 9100 are on the Veterans Memorial Committee.

What can your post do to support or start a local post fundraising project? The expected cost for the memorial is about $300,000. To donate, click here.

The memorial honors all who served Orange County in defense of their country. That, historically, is a lot more people than one might think. Why? Orange County was established in 1752, some twenty years before our colony became a new nation. Our first combat veterans were the Regulators who fought at the Battle of Alamance. Six Regulators who fought there were hanged in Hillsborough in June 1771, during the War of Regulation. The war is often considered the “catalyst” for the Revolutionary War.

Orange County was carved out of Bladen, Granville and Johnston Counties. Then in 1771 it was downsized again to create part of Rowan County and all of Guilford County. Cumberland and Johnson Counties also joined with Orange County to form Wake County and our southernmost area became Chatham County. Wait, there was more cutting up of the original Orange County. Caswell and Alamance counties were cut out from Orange County in 1777 and then the eastern part of our county was added to land from Wake County to form Durham County. Learn more

We share this with District 6 posts so that all will know that this memorial, although located in Southern Orange County and Chapel Hill, honors them, too. Let’s join together to make it a reality and a District Project.

Each year Chapel Hill Post 9100 holds a raffle to raise money for their Veterans Relief Fund. The raffle has two purposes. One is to raise money for veterans assistance. The other it to show the local community that they have an active and vibrant group of veterans by meeting and greeting passersby in beautiful downtown Chapel Hill.

A smile from a vet with a flower for the ladies

Chapel Hill announced that their drawing for the pair of season tickets for Tar Heel Men’s Basketball for the 2015-2016 season was held this afternoon. There were 300 tickets in the tub from which the winner was drawn. The winner was Lee Heavlin, a career Navy veteran from Carrboro who finished his career as the Administrative Officer for the Navy ROTC Unit on campus at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Heavlin has also served as District 6 Commander and is active in local veterans groups and projects.

$3000 was raised from the raffle ticket sales. Post 6 stated on their website, “We can’t begin to tell you how important it is for our Chapel Hill VFW Post to help needy veterans who come to us for financial assistance. The fund into which the raffle ticket money went is our source for that help. We call it our Veterans Relief Fund.”

“Other money that goes into that fund is what we raise from our Buddy Poppy efforts. This is a nationwide VFW program to raise money for veteran assistance. You may see men and women in front of grocery stores or “big box” retailers, especially around Veterans Day, giving away small red and green flowers. These poppies are made by disabled veterans and are given to people by VFW members to remind them of the sacrifices made by members of our military. Donations are gladly accepted but not requested from those to whom the poppies are given. Again, every penny raised goes into the fund from which assistance is provided to veterans in financial need who approach the local VFW Post.” Learn more about Chapel Hill.

Chapel Hill also reports that they added an antique water kettle and campfire tripod to their project. The kettle was painted red, white, and blue and it draws a lot of attention. Those who have no idea what a Buddy Poppy is recognize a donation catcher and freely contribute. Many stop and chat. World War II bomber crewmember Major Elmer Hughes is always at the ready with a big smile and a handful of Buddy Poppies.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America (VFW), at their most recent national convention, made major changes in the eligibility to their Auxiliary. Formerly open only to female family members of a VFW qualifying veteran, the organization now offers membership to the male family members as well.

The number of women serving in our nation’s military has grown tremendously and, therefore, the VFW wanted to be sure their family members were afforded the same opportunity to support them through the VFW Auxiliary as their male comrades. In doing so, it has enabled male and female spouses, grandparents, parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren of a VFW qualifying veteran to join the Auxiliary.

The Auxiliary has been in existence for over 100 years serving veterans who served in harm’s way for our country and insuring that veterans in need get assistance for themselves and their families. The support also includes ensuring Americans remember that the freedoms we enjoy are due to the honorable and loyal service of our military, so their service is not only remembered but appreciated. For an application or to ask questions about your local Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, please contact a local post. View list of local posts

With each new post year comes new officers and chairmen to tackle recurring post programs and projects. Does your post have a system to pass along last year’s project files and history? Can you readily determine the sequence of events and who does what and when?

Our programs do not change a lot. Dates change, themes change, but not a lot more. But, what about problems, failures, or successes? What about public relations, key helpers, and contacts? How does your post convey the nuances of post projects, so that you can continue successful programs and make weak programs better?

All first place contest winners now compete in state-wide competition against the winners from all districts within North Carolina. Winners of the Department of North Carolina competition go on to represent the state in national competition.

District 6 would like to thank all the posts for their time spent in promoting the Veterans of Foreign Wars Patriots Pen, Voice of Democracy and Teacher of the Year programs. “A special thanks goes to the students and teachers involved in supporting the programs through their entries to the posts. Congratulations to all of the winners,”Harry Bays, District 6 Commander.

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